Finding aid for the José Guadalupe Posada prints 0517
Barbara Robinson and Bo Doub
USC Libraries Special Collections
2021 June
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0189
specol@usc.edu
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: José Guadalupe Posada prints
Creator:
Posada, José Guadalupe, 1852-1913
Creator:
Manilla, Manuel
Creator:
Méndez, Leopoldo, 1902-1969
Creator:
Vanegas Arroyo, Antonio, 1852-1917
Identifier/Call Number: 0517
Identifier/Call Number: 209
Physical Description:
7.79 Linear Feet
7 boxes and 1 oversize folder
506 prints
Date (inclusive): circa 1890-1915
Date: 1953
Abstract: The collection contains a total of 506 items printed by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo's press. Among the items are half-sheet and
full-sheet broadsides, chapbooks, and games. A majority of the prints were by José Guadalupe Posada, and possibly a few by
Manuel Alfonso Manilla, his precursor and mentor. Themes in the collection include: Mexican popular culture, Calaveras, local
disasters, supernatural acts, crimes, suicides, moral lessons, social critique, political caricatures, corridos, religious
miracles, the Virgen de Guadalupe, and images of daily life and customs in Mexico.
Language of Material:
Spanish; Castilian
.
José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913), born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, spent his most creative period in Mexico City, from 1888,
as a prolific engraver, printmaker, and publisher during the final years of the Porfirio Díaz dictatorship and the beginning
of the Mexican Revolution. In 1890, Posada began work for noted printer Antonio Vanegas Arroyo. Posada's works were widely
distributed to both the illiterate and reading public, and, since the 1920s, made lasting impressions on Diego Rivera, Leopoldo
Mendez, and many other prominent artists. Today Posada is best-known for his satirical and humorous illustrations of Mexican
society. Among his most recognized works are his broadsides known as Calaveras, depicting lively images of skulls and skeletons,
with accompanying text often in verse. Following Posada's death, the Calaveras became closely associated with Mexico's Dia
de Muertos celebration (Day of the Dead). Posada's early work with printer Vanegas Arroyo was influenced by another graphic
artist, Manuel Alfonso Manilla. The similarity between their work during Posada's early years in Mexico City led to the attribution
to Posada of almost all of the Vanegas Arroyo broadsides, including those created by Manilla. In recent years researchers
have begun to identify works by Manilla which were formerly attributed to Posada.
The collection contains a total of 506 items printed by Antonio Vanegas Arroyo's press. Among the items are half-sheet and
full-sheet broadsides, chapbooks, and games. A majority of the prints were by José Guadalupe Posada, and possibly a few by
Manuel Alfonso Manilla, his precursor and mentor. Themes in the collection include: Mexican popular culture, Calaveras, local
disasters, supernatural acts, crimes, suicides, moral lessons, social critique, political caricatures, corridos, religious
miracles, the Virgen de Guadalupe, and images of daily life and customs in Mexico. The collection also includes a signed linocut
by Leopoldo Méndez titled
Homenaje a José Guadalupe Posada.
The collection is organized in seven boxes and one item in a map case: Box 1. Chapbooks; 2. and 3. Half sheet broadsides;
4. Las Calaveras: Full sheet broadsides; 5. Games and other Full sheet broadsides; 6. Religious themes: Full sheet and half
sheet broadsides; 7. Ringed folders of photocopies of prints in the collection. Separately in map case:
Homenaje a Jose Guadalupe Posada, signed linocut, by Leopoldo Mendez.
Advance notice required for access.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
[Box/folder no. or item name], José Guadalupe Posada prints, Collection no. 0517, Boeckmann Center for Iberian and Latin American
Studies, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Libros Latinos, February 25, 2000.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
All Souls' Day -- Mexico -- Archival resources
Art, Mexican -- Archival resources
Death in art -- Archival resources
Graphic artists -- Mexico -- Archival resources
Mexican wit and humor, Pictorial -- Archival resources
Mexico -- History -- Revolution, 1910-1920 -- Pictorial works
Mexico -- Religious life and customs -- Pictorial works
Mexico -- Social life and customs -- Pictorial works
Political satire, Mexican -- Archival resources
Prints, Mexican -- Archival resources
Broadsides (notices)
Chapbooks
Printed ephemera
Prints
Méndez, Leopoldo, 1902-1969 -- Pictorial works
Posada, José Guadalupe, 1852-1913 -- Pictorial works
Manilla, Manuel -- Pictorial works
Vanegas Arroyo, Antonio, 1852-1917 -- Pictorial works
Box 1
Chapbooks
Physical Description:
103 Items
Box 2, Box 3
Half sheet broadsides
Physical Description:
210 Items
Box 4
Las Calaveras: Full sheet broadsides
Physical Description:
85 Items
Box 5
Games and full sheet broadsides
Physical Description:
51 Items
Box 6
Religious themes: Full sheet and half sheet broadsides
Physical Description:
57 Items
Box 7
Photocopies of the broadsides in the collection
Physical Description:
7 binders
Oversize-folder 1
Homenaje a José Guadalupe Posada 1953